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Showlight returns more international than ever

Showlight 2025 made a triumphant return in May, revived and rejuvenated after an 8-year break, visiting the historic city of Dijon, one of France’s centres of art and gastronomy. Hailed as the largest and most international Showlight to date, Showlight 2025 marked a chance to converge once again and dedicate three whole days to talking about light.

The event exhibited a greater international presence with participants coming from all over the world - Europe, America, Brazil, Australia, and more. Speakers and lighting designers from every genre of lighting had the opportunity to make new connections and exchange ideas.

Papers presentations and the Q&A sessions that followed were available in five different languages. With nearly thirty speakers, the range of lighting topics included representations from the worlds of film, television, theatre, art installation, themed attractions, public installations, and haute couture.

Subjects ranged from Willie Williams’ talk on the Las Vegas Sphere and his lighting of U2, through Tim Lutkin and Adrien Mourey’s lighting a castle at Disneyland Paris, to David Duffy’s take on lighting a puppet festival in a remote village on the edge of the Arctic Circle and Sophya Acosta’s account of the creative challenges of working in a small venue. The conference was rounded off with an “in conversation” with film cameraman and 2nd unit director Peter Macdonald, who recounted tales from his 70-year career in cinema.

There were more opportunities for students with the introduction of Showlight workshops, held in three locations, which were well attended and laid the grounds for an expanded programme in future Showlights. The newly-introduced Emerging Professionals scholarship caught those who fell between the gaps of student and established professional and, like the Sponsored Student programme, was over-subscribed with worthy applicants.

Those Students and EPs who were fortunate enough to be selected got a lot out of the experience, but also put a huge amount into their time there too, with students helping the organisers in every aspect of Showlight whether backstage, camera operating, assisting exhibitors or front-of-house.

A global fraternity of lighting designers, manufacturers and speakers mixed with students, Emerging Professionals, exhibitors and delegates over three days of networking, both during the day in the exhibition hall hosting over forty exhibitors, at lunch and tea breaks, and at the company dinners hosted by those exhibitors on the first evening.

A touch of glamour was added at the Conference Dinner when everyone was transported to a champagne reception and elegant dinner at Chateau Vantoux, held in the Orangerie and accompanied by a string quartet playing both classical and contemporary music.

“We have had an overwhelming response to this edition of Showlight”, says Showlight 2025 Chairman Jim Tetlow. “It’s difficult to choose the highlights as everyone took away something different and had their eyes opened to many alternatives and inspirations.  We have definitely seen an evolution with our expanded student programme and the new Emerging Professional programme, which have made Showlight more accessible to the next generation.”

The next Showlight is set to be held in 2029 in an as-yet undisclosed location.

(Photos: Jean Nguyen/Showlight)

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